Rights & Licensing
A plain-language map of what the client may do with the writing after delivery.
One work, different permissions
The price of writing and the price of exploitation are not always the same.
1. How to choose a rights package
Choose the narrowest package that covers the intended use. A personal gift does not need a global commercial assignment. A national brand campaign needs more than permission to share a poem with family.
The accepted quotation or rights schedule controls. The descriptions below are standard models, not automatic grants.
Private personal use
For love letters, memorial pieces, family books, personal poems and private gifts.
2. Private Personal Licence
- Keep the final work indefinitely.
- Share privately with intended recipients, family and friends.
- Print reasonable personal copies.
- Read or perform it at a private personal gathering.
This licence does not include public posting, paid publication, advertising, resale, merchandise, adaptation, commercial performance or sublicensing.
Public personal use
For personal websites, social media, wedding readings, memorial pages and public non-commercial sharing.
3. Public Personal Licence
This includes the Private Personal Licence and the specific public uses named in the quotation, such as posting on personal social accounts, publishing on a personal website, or reading at a public personal event.
The work may not be used to promote a business, product, paid service, political campaign or monetised publication unless the licence says so. Credit must follow the agreed form.
Commercial licence
For brands, campaigns, publishing, film, music, packaging, merchandise or paid media.
4. Commercial Licence
A commercial licence identifies each relevant dimension:
| Dimension | What should be stated |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Campaign, publication, film, song, website, internal communication, product or other use. |
| Media | Digital, print, broadcast, outdoor, audio, video, live performance or another medium. |
| Territory | India, named countries or worldwide. |
| Duration | Specific campaign period, fixed years or another stated term. |
| Exclusivity | Non-exclusive, category-exclusive or fully exclusive within a defined scope. |
| Adaptation | Editing, translation, music, voice, film, abridgement or derivative works. |
| Credit | Named credit, discreet credit, no credit or ghostwritten use. |
| Sublicensing | Whether agencies, distributors, publishers or production partners may use the work. |
Anything not listed is not granted.
Full or partial assignment
For clients who need ownership of specified copyright rights rather than a licence.
5. Copyright Assignment
An assignment must be set out in a separate written schedule signed by RDC Unsaid or its authorised representative. It identifies the exact work, rights, media, duration, territory and consideration.
Assignment is priced separately and is not included merely because a project is called bespoke, exclusive, ghostwritten or one-of-one.
Where only some rights are assigned, all other rights remain with RDC Unsaid. Statutory author rights remain subject to applicable law.
Ghostwriting and anonymity
For memoirs, letters, speeches, founder narratives and work published in another person's name.
6. Ghostwriting Rights
A ghostwriting schedule should state:
- The name or entity that may be presented as author;
- Whether RDC Unsaid remains entirely uncredited;
- Whether portfolio or anonymised reference is prohibited;
- Whether the client receives a personal licence, commercial licence or copyright assignment;
- The client's edit, adaptation and publication rights;
- Confidentiality, source-material and draft-retention rules.
A licence to publish is not always a licence to rewrite
Material changes can affect meaning, reputation and author rights.
7. Editing, translation and derivative works
Minor formatting, proofreading and technical resizing are usually permitted where necessary for the licensed use. Translation, abridgement, musical setting, film adaptation, substantial editing, sequel, derivative work or use in a new medium requires express permission unless already included.
The client must not attribute a materially altered version to RDC Unsaid where the alteration misrepresents or damages the original work or author.
Rights begin when the conditions are met
Draft access is not a licence to publish.
8. When rights take effect
Unless the project documents say otherwise, usage rights begin after full payment and final delivery. Before that point, drafts are supplied only for review and may not be published, circulated beyond the approved review group or commercially used.
Unauthorised use may require removal, retroactive licensing fees, damages or other lawful remedies.
Describe the use before asking for a price
State who will use the work, where, for how long, whether money or promotion is involved, and whether exclusivity is required.
Email rdc@rdcunsaid.com · Copyright overview · Commission terms